Here I stand, surrounded by thick, dense forest. The only lighting comes through the tops of the trees. Today the sky is gray. The air carries a slight chill as it touches my skin. In front of me is a pathway many have taken before me. I know this, cause of the evidence that lays around me. The edge of the pathway is littered with packs, empty food and water containers.

I’m marching forward. I know where it ends, but I don’t know what awaits me, before I can get there. Steeper and steeper the path goes. I see adventurers coming back down, disheartened and broken. Their eyes and faces defeated. They gaze upon me with a warning of the dangers ahead of me. I grow scared, but I am determined. My mind calculates, if I’m making the correct decision; But my heart is strong. I push past them as I push away my fears as well.

For miles and miles I walk, the pathway becomes cluttered with fallen trees, large boulders and more lost possessions of those who failed before me. Even with the chilly breeze, I begin to perspire. My breathing grew heavy. The skies grow darker, day flows into night. Night flow back into day and back to darkness again. The days turn into weeks. Weeks stretched into months. The pathway has become filled with people mending injuries, camping in tents, hanging on with a meager shred of hope. A few of them have lost everything they possess and are waiting to die. They reach out their arms to me as if asking me to save them. But I cannot endanger myself. I must move on and swallow my pity for them into my stomach. Part of me, wants to put them out of their misery.

Finally, after I’ve walked a good distance, I’m alone again. No longer having to look into the eyes of those who fell behind me, and those feelings of guilt and remorse disappear. My mission has pushed me past those awful emotions I had felt. The path is quiet, and dark; But it’s dark and lonely. I look ahead, it inclines dramatically now. I have to use my hands and feet to ascend. Then, suddenly the path levels and I’m on even ground. I drew a deep breath of relief. I’m quite excited. I feel like the hard part behind me. My pace quickens with excitement. Maybe, I’m close to the end of my journey.

I decided to rest and catch my breathe. I sit and take a candy bar from my pack and pull out my canteen. I eat and drink, smiling as I enjoy the fresh air and beautiful scenery around me. Just when I feel comfortable, I’m struck with an object of some sort. I fell to the ground. My face pushed into the damp, moist soil. I see people out of my peripheral moving and yanking at my pack and my clothes trying to take everything I have. I gain my senses and struggle to my feet. I’m surrounded by those who failed and want to take everything I own so they can continue on.

To hell with them, they will not stop me on my quest. I build the courage to fight. My fists tighten and I swing over and over. The sounds of roars and pains echo into the forest. Bodies fall, sharp pains shoot through me from returning blows. I’m knocked down, but I get back up and continue to fight. I reach and grab for my possessions and swing punches in a methodical manner. The battle turns in my favor and the attackers escape into the forest with only a few of my supplies. I won technically, I kept the important items, but I’ve been badly beaten and I’m sure this will affect me down the road.

My assumptions were right all along. My body aches, but I’m thankful to be alive. With sore ribs, bloody lip and aching joints I walk on with one foot in front of the other. Then suddenly, I’m staring at a huge stone wall. As I look up, it goes on far as the eye can see. I grow sad and disheartened. When will this journey become easy. There has to be a point when the climbing must stop. How long must I go on before this becomes easy. I look back. It looks much easier to just turn around and go back down. Why am I doing this? Why did I even bother to fight and claw my way here, to just continue to do the same thing over and over? Where’s my reward, any kind of reward?

My entire body aches right now. My pack has rubbed my shoulders to the point my skin has become irritated. I sit down on a huge rock debating what I should do. My head drops to my chest. I stare at the ground. The ground covered with brush. The path barely visible, because very few made it this far. As I look closer at my surroundings, I notice bodies and bones of the few who have made it here and failed as well. Do I want to risk everything to get to the end? I think about what awaits me at the end. I want it so badly. I grow hungry for it, but I’m so fearful.

Finally, I stand. I take off everything that can hold me back from accomplishing my mission. I remove my pack and everything I don’t need. I must do this. It’s what I want more than anything in this world; Even if it mean my death. I approach the giant cliff wall. I look straight up and search for a place to grip onto. I jam my fingers into the rocky cliff side. I can feel the cold and dirty rock face with my fingertips. My muscles flex and my fingers tighten as I pull myself upward. I carefully search for places to latch onto as I climb.

For hours I climb, the higher I go, the more dangerous it feels. The rocks grow cold, and wet. The clouds move closer and closer. When the clouds are beneath me, my fingers sting, my back burns, and with each grip my legs and arms shake. I refuse to look down in fear. I look up for the next place to grab, then suddenly, I can see the top. Excitement fills my heart, this could be the end, I’ve been searching for. I quicken my pace, forgetting about how bad my body hurts. As I hurry, my hand slips and almost fall to my doom. I panic and search for place to regain my grip. When I finally back safety against the wall, I take a deep breathe and relax and regain my focus. I slowly climb to the top and roll onto my back looking up at a blue sky and bright sun. I finally did it! I made it up the giant cliff. I smile. I made it to the top and the end of my journey.

Once I have gained my bearing and wipe away my tears of joy, I stand and look at what I accomplished. I’m filled with wonder and excitement! Great pride fills my soul. I turn to look at the finish line and soak in the goal I worked so hard to achieve. When I look, my heart drops into my feet. What stands before me is a sharp, jagged mountain covered with snow. A path with very few footprints lead right up to my feet. With a deep breath of frustration. I start to walk.

Each step leads me into the deeper and deeper snow. I’ve come so far already. I must go forward with possible success or death. If I go back I will most surely will die. It no longer has to do anything with my will or desire. It’s all about survival now.

Time has faded into one big blob, I do not know what day it is, month or even years for that matter. My feet frozen. My fingers and face are frostbitten. An overgrown beard covers my face. I stink to high heaven. My teeth chatter, but not with words. The chilly breeze is now a frosty, gusty wind.

By now, I’ve turned into a robot walking with no set goals, or logical thought process running through my brain. I just keep walking. I do not even realize I have reached the top. The path stops and I stand at the edge of a mountain cliff. When I look up from the ground and gaze around me. I soon realize the air is warm. The sun shines. All around me there’s a beautiful array of flowers, Endless tables of glorious foods. Treasure chest overflowing with gold, gems and jewelry. I’m surrounded by mythical creatures of beauty.

Finally, there sits a giant golden throne. It’s covered in huge gems of all colors. Red velvet cushions with matching sturdy armrests. I approach and stand before it. I turn and raise both my fists into the air. “I did it!” I scream as loud as I can scream. I can hear the echoes across the sky. I sit down, lean back and rest my aching body against it. I take a deep breathe of pride and celebration. A servant hands me a giant frosted glass mug of beer, and another hands me a giant cigar: Then lights it for me with a golden Zippo lighter.

“I did it… I fucking did it!”